Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as the Board cannot consider her claim for a TDIU in the first instance due to her service-connected disabilities, and she indicated that she cannot work due to symptomatology associated with these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated as 70 percent disabling, and the Board has remanded for further development.,Service connection for right shoulder arthritis was granted.

The Board has remanded four issues related to instability and degenerative arthritis of the Veteran's knees due to inadequate VA examination reports. The case is being returned for further evaluation.

The Veteran's right knee was denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for the period prior to November 23, 2016, and in excess of 30 percent thereafter. The left knee was granted a separate evaluation of 10 percent for instability and a rating of 30 percent for limitation of motion from April 1, 2014, to prior to November 23, 2016. Both knees were denied an evaluation in excess of the assigned ratings.

The Veteran's left foot ingrown toenails are currently rated as noncompensable, but the Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted due to lack of significant functional impairment.,The Veteran's right knee disability warrants an initial 10 percent rating from May 3, 2013, based on painful motion. The issue remains remanded for further development.,A separate 10 percent rating for left knee instability is granted from June 7, 2012, due to slight functional impairment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include left ankle, left knee, right knee disabilities as well as a psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) and kidney disease.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeals.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations conducted in February 2021 are inadequate for evaluating the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities. The issues have been remanded to comply with the prior remand instructions.

The Veteran is currently in receipt of a 10 percent rating for urethritis, but the Board finds that he does not have any current symptoms of voiding dysfunction related to his service-connected urethritis. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction has been diagnosed and may be secondary to his service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran was previously gainfully employed prior to February 1, 2019, and is therefore not entitled to a TDIU for that period.

The Veteran's traumatic arthritis of the left knee is currently rated at 10 percent disabling, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the claim for a total disability rating based on unemployability (TDIU) due to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disabilities. The case is being referred back for additional development, including obtaining complete SSA and Vocational Rehabilitation records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to new evidence received since previous decisions. The claims are now pending for further review.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knees and right knee scars due to outstanding VA treatment records and SSA disability benefit records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is related to his service-connected left knee disability, and thus granted service connection for this condition.,The Board found no evidence of a direct relationship between the Veteran's lower back disability and his service-connected left knee disability. The Board denied service connection for the lower back disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records from Eglin AFB medical facilities. The Veteran is not contesting the effective date or rating assigned for service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including her migraines, right knee and left knee disabilities, vertigo, and right hip disability. The effective dates for benefits are not addressed in this decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability requires further development to determine if a higher rating is warranted and whether he should be granted TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, left hip, and right knee disabilities due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or related to service.,The Veteran's current diagnoses are not considered to be directly related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of increased ratings for right knee replacement, left knee scar, and right knee scar due to insufficient evidence from the last VA examination conducted more than six years ago.

The Veteran's initial rating for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine has been granted at a 20 percent level. The ratings for her left and right knee disabilities have been remanded, as well as her claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and pelvic floor dysfunction.